Target for ball toss game

ABSTRACT

A ball toss game, suitable for either indoor or outdoor play, consisting of a box having in the front side thereof a plurality of openings. A target basket, adjacent each of the openings in the box, receives the tossed ball and directs the same into such openings. Ducts in the box conduct the balls from each of the openings to a separate compartment, having an assigned numerical value which the players use in computing their scores. In use, the box may either be suspended from a fixed support, or supported in an upright position by collapsible legs.

United States Patent Holk [54] TARGET FOR BALL TOSS GAME [72] inventor: Howard A. Hulk, 12025 Rutherford,

Detroit, Mich. 48227 [22] Filed: Sept. 18, 1970 211 Appl. No.: 73,482

52 us. c1. ..273/105 R 511 110. C1. ..A63b 03/00 [58] dd otSeareh .,..273/95 R, 102.4, 105 R, 103

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,036,833 5/1962 Wilson ..273/105 R 1,442,054 1/1923 13111011.... .273/105 ux 2,224,962 12/1940 Hines.... ....273/105 R 3,375,005 3/1968 Cook ..273/105 R [45] Feb. 22, 1972 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 878,910 4/1953 Germany ..273/l05 R Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Marvin Siskind Attorney-Adolph G. Martin [57] ABSTRACT A ball toss game, suitable for either indoor or outdoor play, consisting of a box having in the front side thereof a plurality of openings. A target basket, adjacent each of the openings in the box, receives the tossed ball and directs the same into such openings. Ducts in the box conduct the balls from each of the openings to a separate compartment, having an assigned numerical value which the players use in computing their scores. In use, the box may either be suspended from a fixed support, or supported in an upright position by collapsible legs.

1 Claims, ,5 Drawing Figures PATENTEUFEBZZ i972 3.643.950

Mi m 54 INVENTOR HOWARD HOLK FIG 4 BY M ATTORNEY TARGET FOR BALL TOSS GAME BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to games generally, and more particularly to a ball toss type of game satisfactory for use by persons in any age group. Most games of this particular type also usually require considerable playing space, thus making them suitable only for outdoor use. However, the applicant's game requires no special skills, and the distance from which the balls are tossed at the target baskets is preferably not more than 10 feet. The selected distance from the playing line to the target baskets, however, will depend upon the age of the players.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention comprises a box 10 with a front panel 12 having therein a series of openings 18. Target baskets 22, on the front panel 12, communicate directly with the openings 18. Ducts 32 in the box 10 lead from the openings 18 to separate compartments 30 in a trough 28. Numerical values 34 are assigned to each of the compartments 30 as a means of scoring the game. Pivoted legs 42, on each side of the box 10, are releasably held in a collapsed position by resilient clips 50.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a front elevation view of the applicants invention, showing the baskets 22 and the openings 18 in the front panel I2 of the box 10.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view, taken substantially on plane 22 in FIG. 1, showing the pivoted legs 42 supporting the box 10 in an upright position.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view, taken substantially on plane 33 in FIG. 1, showing the shape of the baskets 22 on the front panel 12 of the box 10.

FIG. 4 is a section view, taken substantially on plane 4-4 in FIG. 1, showing the ducts 32 in the box 10 and the compartments 30 in the trough 28 with which each is associated.-

FIG. 5 is a rear elevation view of the applicants invention, showing the pivoted legs 42 in a collapsed position engaged under the clips 50, and the bounding board 52 stored on the rear panel 14 of the box 10.

CONSTRUCTION For a more detailed description of the invention, reference is made to the drawing in which numeral designates a box having a front and a rear panel 12 and 14 respectively, and side panels 16. A plurality of openings 18, in the front panel 12 of the box 10, each have assigned thereto a numerical value 20. A laterally disposed target basket 22, adjacent each of the openings 18, comprises a hoop 24 supporting dependent members 26 attached to the front panel 12 of the box 10.

A trough 28, along the lower side of the box 10, has therein a series of compartments 30 each communicating with one of the openings 18 in the front panel 12 of the box 10 by means of internal ducts 32. A numerical value 34, corresponding to that on the opening 18 with which it is in communication, is assigned to each of the compartments 30. A cover on the trough 28, comprising spaced members 36, is pivotally attached to the side members of the trough 28.

A pair of spaced eyes 40 are provided on the upper side of the box 10 for suspending it by means of a flexible member, not here shown, connected to the eyes 40. A pair of pivoted legs 42 are provided on each side panel 16 of the box 10 for supporting it in an upright position, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. A triangular stop 44, on each side panel 16 of the box 10, is disposed between the pivoted legs 42. A locking bar 46, for each pair of the pivoted legs 42, is swingably connected to one of the legs 42 and adapted to holdably engage a pin 48 in the other leg 42.

Resilient clips 50 are provided on each side panel 16, for releasably holding the pivoted legs 42 in a collapsed position, as shown in FIG. 5. A bounding board 52 is detachably held in the plane of the front panel 12 by means of two rods 54 engaged in spaced openings provided in the top of the box I0. A pair of U-shaped clips 58, on the back panel 14 of the box 10, holdably receive the two rods 54 on the bounding board 52 for storing the same, as shown in FIG. 5.

The preceding discussion completes a description of the structure of the applicants invention herein disclosed. However, to facilitate a more thorough and comprehensive understanding of the subject matter, a discussion is immediately hereinafter directed to the manner in which the device is used and operates to fulfill its intended function.

USE AND OPERATION In use, the box 10 is either supported in an upright position by the pivoted legs 42, or suspended by means of a flexible member connected to the eyes 40. If the pivoted legs 42 are to be used, they are swung outwardly from under the resilient clips 50, and placed in contact with the triangular stop 44. The locking bar 46 is then swung into engagement with the pin 48 so as to hold the pivoted legs 42 in their assigned or extended position. Balls 60 are then tossed from a preselected distance at the various target baskets 22 on the front panel I4 of the box 10.

Those balls 60 which enter the target baskets 22 are directed by the ducts 32 into the several compartments 30 of the trough 28. After a specified number of balls 60 have been tossed at the baskets 22, the cover is pivoted to the broken line position shown in FIG. 2, so that the balls 60 can be counted and removed from the compartments 30 in the trough 28. The numerical value 34 assigned to each of the compartments 30 is then multiplied by the number of balls 60 therein. The numerical total for all the compartments 30 represents the player's score for that particular turn or inning.

A game may consist of any preselected number of turns for each contestant, and the game winner is that player who amasses the greatest point total or score for the agreed number of turns or innings. When the game is not in use, the box 10 can be conveniently stored by returning the pivoted legs 42 to their collapsed position under the resilient clips 50, as shown in FIG. 5, and removing the bounding board 52 from the top of the box 10 and attaching it to the back panel 14.

In the applicants game, a ball 60, having little if any resiliency, is best suited for play. A plastic practice golf ball 60 has proven to be very satisfactory as it does not rebound appreciably when impact is made with the front panel 12 of the box 10. In practice, the size of the target baskets 22 will be dependent upon the diameter of the ball 60 which is selected for use with the game. Likewise, the distance from which the ball 60 is to be tossed, will in large measure depend upon the size of the baskets 22 in relation to the diameter of the balls 60 with which they are to be used.

Based upon the foregoing discussion, the applicant is of the opinion that his invention has fulfilled a longfelt need in the field of games, and that he has accordingly made a valuable contribution to the related art. However, while the invention was described with reference to the structural details of only a single embodiment, it will be appreciated by those familiar with the art that the principles involved are susceptible of numerous other practical adaptations.

I therefore claim asnew, and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. A ball toss game comprising a box having a front and a back panel, a plurality of openings in the front panel each having an assigned numerical value, a target basket adjacent each of the openings in the, front panel and in communication therewith, a trough along the front side of the box and extending outwardly therefrom and having therein a series of compartments, ducts in the box providing communication between each of the openings in the front panel and a separate compartment in the trough so that in the course of play a ball tossed into one of the baskets will be directed to a particular compartment, a cover on the trough to prevent tossed balls which miss the target baskets from dropping directly into the compartments, and pivoted means connecting such cover to the box so that it can be tilted to facilitate removal of the balls from the trough 

